Hey guys,
I'll be the first to admit that I have a problem with communication. I try and try, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with real life and everything else takes a back seat. I don't mean for this to sound like it does -- and, yes, I can totally see how that comes off, but really. I have a job that consumes much of my time and attention when things are going smoothly. When there's a bump in the road, it can consume ALL of my time and attention. Recently, one of these so-called "bumps" occured and I was forced to focus 100% of my soul to the situation at hand. I fixed the problem, but the aftermath lingered on for weeks. During this time, I was still answering emails as often as I could and answering phone calls as well, but I spent ZERO time on the forums. I see now that this is a real issue and I'm trying to improve upon it.
I really have to get this to sink in.....posting on the forum for updates is GOOD. Not posting is BAD. LOL I really thought that focusing on work and answering emails would suffice, but I was clearly mistaken. Seriously, for those of you that I left hanging, I sincerely apologize for it. I feel like I'm a contributing member of this group and the last thing I want to do is piss people off, freak people out, make you mad or upset, anger you or let you down.
Listen, everyone. I mean this, if I let you guys down, I'm sorry about it. ...and I'm talking about you, Deadly. It stings that I let YOU down of all people. I want to rise above all this crap flinging as much as possible, but I do knowingly allow situations in my life to get in the way of my hobby routinely. I'll promise to work on this more and make posting a priority.
As for saying it was shipping and then nothing, I do have an explanation for it, but it will just come off as more BS. Let me start by explaining something about me for those who don't know me too well and to reiterate for those who do know me.
Most of you already know this, but I'm very, very, VERY picky about details in the products I design/sell, items I buy, things I use, etc. This is true with my "real" business as well - I pay attention to those fine details that others would probably overlook. The way this plays out in my real job is that everything is still done on time and rarely does any project fall beyond my projected completion date. This is one reason why my business does so well, I suspect. Then there's RAM Controls.....
Perhaps I am wrong for having this viewpoint, but RAM Controls is a hobby to me. I make little or no profit on most items I produce, but that's OK. I'm not in this to make money, though what I do manage to pull in is a nice reward for the work that I do. I try to adopt completion dates which has thus far been a miserable failure, however. I've figured out why this doesn't work for RAM Controls, too. I don't have a team of employees helping me with these projects. 99% of the time, it's just me. On the rare occasion, I do "hire" some of my guys for a weekend to help with various processes, but I generally do it alone. RAM Controls would therefore be considered a one man show, so to speak. You can all appreciate that, I suspect.
Anyhow, the point is, I can let these projects linger on and on because A) I have no help and B) I'm picky as hell about the quality and perfection of my products. This only speaks of the long delays, though.
The only choices in front of me at this point with regard to completion dates would seem to be:
1. Stop using completion dates altogether.
2. Get some full time employees to help me.
3. Continue to use them but try to be more realistic on timeframes.
I'm leaning toward option 1, to be honest with you. This way, I don't lock myself into any timeframe and I don't give anyone false hope of having something completed sooner than it most likely will be finished.
In response to saying "it's shipped" and then nothing. Knowing all of the above, can't you see where this is going? It should be obvious (and it's not nearly as insidious as some of you would make it out to be). Havok even mentioned the difference as soon as he got his yoke. Why did it happen? Well, I jumped the gun. I had the part packed up and ready to go..... then I decided to make a last minute change that I THOUGHT would take a few minutes. I was about to ship and I decided to dump the cast handles and go with the machined handles. Then the crap hit the fan at work and everything went to hell. I SHOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS DIRECTLY TO HAVOK, but I didn't. For this, I admit that I made a serious mistake in judgment and I feel bad about it.
I did receive a few phone calls and expressed my situation. I believe at least one of them posted about it, but I'm not certain. I even asked that they post for me because I was unable to focus on it at the time. I'm not excusing myself, but I wanted to illustrate that I did attempt a "fix" of sorts to cover myself while I dealt with my work issue.
After thinking this over and taking in everything that some of you have posted, I think the way for me to go is to stop giving out completion dates, getting rid of pre-orders and just focusing on what I do best - making parts! But I don't know how I'm supposed to handle the daily emails from people asking pointed questions about completion times. I have every intention to do what I say, but I fall short in this dept ALL THE TIME when it comes to getting things done on time. If RAM Controls made an adequate profit, I'd hire people to help me. Since RAM Controls is not the breadwinner in my lineup of responsibilities, I don't have that option available to me. I dump SO much money into this hobby as it is, some of you would think I was absolutely nuts if you knew the amount.
....and maybe I am a little crazy, but arcade games are my sole hobby in life and I'm not going anywhere. Love me, hate me, it's your call. Just know that I'm going to keep making these reproduction parts, even if I'm not "on time".... I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. LOL And, yes, I'm going to communicate better from now on. Even if my world is falling apart, I'll make time to post and update? Ok? Friends?
Peace!
Dave
